2 cases of shooting towards cops may be connected

Denver Police Department conducted a traffic stop on Tuesday at 12:33 a.m. and got into a shootout with the occupant of the car.

DPD pulled the driver over at 4500 block of West 1st Avenue. When the officers approached the car, the driver fired at them, police say. He drove off and was last seen in the area of West 5th Avenue and Bryant Street.

Early Wednesday morning, at 2:45 a.m. a Westminster Police officer conducted a traffic stop when the officer got out of his car. The suspect reportedly shot at the officer. Westminster Police Department spokesperson Cheri Spotke says the officer was not hit or injured, but the suspect did leave the scene in the vehicle.

Westminster Police describe the car as a silver or gray, four-door 2000 Cadillac, with a temporary tag, and red primer on the back end. The driver is described as a Native American man.

Denver's description is similar. Police are looking for a Hispanic or Native American male, approximately mid 20s to 30s with long dark hair. The vehicle is described as primer or hand-painted gray 2000 Cadillac Deville with black tinted windows. The vehicle may also have a broken passenger-side window and has a South Dakota license plate 49CAR9.

"There are similarities between the two suspects," Denver Police spokesperson John White told 9NEWS.

They are looking closely at both cases. Several metro-area police agencies have been told to be on the lookout for this man and are asking the public for help.

If you have information regarding this incident, please call Crime Stoppers at 720-913-STOP (7867). You can text to: CRIMES (274637) then title DMCS and enter your message or contact at www.metro-denvercrimestoppers.com/contact-us. If the information you provide leads to the arrest and charging of a wanted individual, you can receive a cash award up to $2,000.